Tag Archives: NHRA

Miscellaneous

WG at the 2011 Gatornationals.

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I went with my Dad to the 2011 Gatornationals this past weekend. Had a blast. I took a couple hundred pics that I’ll post a summary of elsewhere.

We went to Garlits’s International Drag Racing Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Thursday night. I had the pleasure of briefly meeting the man. It was great to hear some of the stories that were told by all. I thought Frey did a great job as a emcee.

On Friday we went to the Gainesville track. Nice facility. Wandered around the Pits,  lost my Dad. Turns out he was in Cunningham’s trailer talking to Bob Glidden.

When I was looking for him originally I saw Glidden under the car changing out a rear-end and all I could think was “This is the hardest working man ever”.

On Saturday we returned for a autograph session in the morning and then a starting line gig.

The picture included with this post is from the starting line deal. However it comes about from a screw up on my part. I had a basic press credentials that did not allow access to ‘restricted areas’. Naturally, that’s where I wanted to be to be able to get some decent images.

Anyway, I went back to the main grandstand and got this picture.

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Advertising

Wayne Gapp Edelbrock Ad – Insanairity! and the Pop Rod race

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The ad is as it appears. The creator stretched the ‘Taxi’ to get the effect.

The Gapp related highlights of the ad are the following:

Sanair – GrandNational Molson event

Pro Stock Winner – Wayne Gapp

New Pro Stock ET Record – Wayne Gapp

Popular Hot Rod meet at US-131

Pro Stock Winner – Wayne Gapp

Pro Stock Top Qualifier – Wayne Gapp

Racing

35 Years ago the Gapp and Roush Taxi was the Pro Stock Winner at Indy

From Hot Rod, November 1975

“They all laughed when Gapp & Roush first fielded this 4-door Maverick, but not anymore. Wayne Gapp drove it to his third straight NHRA Pro Stock title of the season after qualifying with a 8.85 for third sport, beating Lamar Walden, Reid Whisnant, Lee Edwards, Low Qualifier Wally Booth and Richie Zul’s fantastic big-block Camaro on the final, 8.83 to 8.95.”

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Racing

Winner – The 1975 U.S. Nationals

Not many folks get a win at NHRA’s U.S. Nationals. It is considered THE race of the year.

This is from the July 25th 1975 Issue of National Dragster. See the original entry here.

Pro Stock

Of all the evening’s winners, few enjoyed the ceremonies more than Wayne Gapp, the man who has been a frontrunner all year, but seemingly had some trouble with coming through in the final rounds. After losing the Winternationals to Bob Glidden on a holeshot and then fouling to Glidden in the Gatornationals final, Gapp admittedly had been the subject of criticism within the ranks as for his driving expertise, but the skeptics were silenced at this race as he came through in flying colors via a solid trouncing of Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins (8.80 to an 8.93) to claim the win and stop Jenkins’ own personal three-event winning streak at Summernationals events.

A major factor behind the Gapp & Roush win was their frantic engine change between the second and third rounds. After hitting an 8.96 in the first round, Gapp slowed to 9.03 in the second, and concluded that his engine had “gone south.” The subsequent engine change brought forth a resounding 8.84 in the semi’s, setting the stage for his 8.80 thrashing of “the Grump.” The 8.80 was, of course, Low E.T. of the Meet and also a new National Record. Jenkins did have the consolation of setting Top Speed with a clocking of 154.90 mph.